The Wailers to perform classic album 'Legend' in full

03 July 2013

Newsdesk

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Legendary reggae artists, The Wailers, once again invade the U.K in September and October 2013, bringing with them their highly celebrated and anticipated Legend tour, in which the band will perform the iconic album live on stage in its entirety.

Legend was the twelfth album released by Bob Marley and the Wailers and the second posthumous one. It is the best-selling reggae album of all-time, with over 25 million copies sold globally. Some of songs which will be featured on the tour are fan favorites and include ‘Redemption Song,’ ‘Three Little Birds,’ ‘Waiting In Vain,’ ‘I Shot The Sheriff,’ ‘Jamming,’ ‘Get Up, Stand Up,’ and ‘Satisfy My Soul.’

Legend also holds the distinction of being the second longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine. Combining its chart life on the Billboard 200 and the Top Pop Catalog Albums charts, Legend has had a chart run of 992 non-consecutive weeks, surpassed only by The Dark Side of the Moon at 1574 weeks.

Together with Bob Marley, The Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. In England alone, they’ve notched up over twenty chart hits, including seven Top 10 entries. Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, The Wailers have also played with international acts like Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition, The Wailers have performed to an estimated 24 million people across the globe.

The nucleus of The Wailers was formed in 1969, when Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh recruited the Barrett brothers - bassist Aston “Family Man” and drummer Carly - from Lee Perry’s Upsetters - to play on hits such as ‘Lively Up Yourself,’ ‘Trenchtown Rock,’ ‘Duppy Conqueror,’ among others. Inspired by Rastafari and their ambitions of reaching an international audience, this is the line-up that pioneered roots rock reggae and was signed to Island Records in 1971.

Fast forward to 2012; The Wailers were handpicked by The Stone Roses to share the stage at the now infamous sold out Heaton Park shows. This unlikely pairing was the result of The Stone Roses front man Ian Brown and Mani having learned bass by playing along to Family Man’s bass patterns in some of reggae’s most revered songs.

Most recently, The Wailers joined island-loving country icon Kenny Chesney for a new track, "Spread the Love" on his new album, Life on a Rock. The video for the new studio track was shot in Jamaica with The Wailers and will be released this summer.

Now well into their fifth decade, The Wailers truly are living legends who embody the nobility, conviction and progressiveness of Bob Marley and his music. Their journey is far from over as the world awaits The Wailers’ next move in their ‘One Love’ revolution. “Our music is the magic, the oxygen of the people. It’s the message of roots, culture and reality, meant to spread peace and love to all,” says Family Man.

The band continues to thrill audiences of all kinds with a relentless tour schedule and an unparalleled stage show.

The current line-up features the anchor of the band, Aston “Family Man” Barrett on bass, Duane “Danglin’” Anglin on lead vocals, Keith Sterling on keyboards, Zeb “Drummy” Williams on drums, Audley Chisholm on rhythm Guitar, Aston Barrett Jr. on percussion/keys, and on backing vocals Cegee Victory.